United States: A new test measuring key proteins in the blood, called APS2 (the amyloid probability score 2), has proven to be far more accurate than doctor assessments in identifying Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages.
The APS2 test was 91% accurate in diagnosing Alzheimer’s in people with mild cognitive decline or early dementia, compared to a 61% success rate by primary care doctors. While this specific test is not approved till now for routine use, Dr. Teresa D’Amato, director of geriatric emergency medicine at Northwell Health in Forest Hills, NY, also showed that the new findings as really “very exciting”.
Potential Game-Changer for Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
This particular blood test actually looks great as the first round of diagnostic testing said D’Amato, who wasn’t involved in the study.
As reported by HealthDay, an accurate and very easily administered blood test for Alzheimer’s could be a game-changer, according to a team of dementia experts who wrote an editorial accompanying the research.
“Diagnosing Alzheimer’s is challenging, especially in primary care.
Having a trustable blood test is very important to help primary care physicians make an early and accurate diagnosis,” the editorialists said. They included Dr. Stephen Salloway, of Brown University, Dr. Christopher Rowe, of the University of Melbourne, Australia, and Dr. Jeffrey Burns, of the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Also this new test was made by a team led by Dr. Sebastian Palmquist of Skane University in Malmo, Sweden.
Development and Study Details
The recent use of the drugs shows that the slow Alzheimer’s in its earliest stages have made the search for very easier more accurate and diagnostic test is more urgent.
Though it really becomes important to diagnose Alzheimer’s very early on to make these folks eligible for possible treatment, “D’Amato said.
As given in the study 1,213 patients who were experiencing “cognitive symptoms” were evaluated by either a standard primary care physician exam or by the use of the APS2 test. The patients averaged about 74 years of age.
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